Compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner

ABSTRACT

This is a compact apparatus for generating a hot airflow to be utilized for all those functions where a hot airflow is suggested or required as, for example, in prep stations, spray booths and mix rooms. An outer air duct, that has one of its end closed, contains a second, smaller air duct that houses a fan, powered by a motor, and a gas burner. Cool air enters the outer air duct, passes through the warm hollow space between said two air ducts, goes through said burner located inside the inner duct, and hot air exits from the inner air duct. It is energy efficient, simple to operate, cost effective, and space effective.

This application claims the benefits of U.S. provisional application No. 60/921,172 filed on Mar. 30, 2007.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates the general field of prep stations, spray booth, mix rooms, and all those functions where a hot airflow is needed or required, specifically to an improved apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner.

While working on my invention U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,672, issued Mar. 27, 2007, I have noticed that generating a hot airflow by either positioning a gas burner inside a straight air duct (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), or inside an outflow air duct when an inflow air duct is located on one side of said outflow duct (FIG. 3 and FIG. 4), needed longer times and more energy then the present invention in order to bring the air to the desired temperature, and did not allow for a compact design.

In the solution illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 part of the gas burner energy is lost through the air duct walls, furthermore, the cool air that enters the air duct hits the gas burner when still cool or cold.

In the solution illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 part of the energy lost through the walls of the air duct is used to pre heat the cool air getting into the system, but most of it is still lost. This configuration would need a more powerful gas burner and more space then the present invention in order to bring the air to the desired temperature.

The present invention provides an apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner that is space effective, energy efficient, cost effective, easy to use and easy to be installed in new and old prep stations, spray booth, mix rooms, and all those other functions where a hot airflow is needed or required.

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS References Cited

Not Applicable.

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS References Cited

Not Applicable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This is a complete compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner.

The system is comprised of two air ducts whereas an outer air duct is closed on one of its ends and an inner air duct, open on both of its ends, is positioned inside the outer air duct and houses a gas burner and a fan, powered by a motor, that has the dual purpose of sucking in the air from the outer air duct and blowing it out through the inner air duct.

Cold air enter the apparatus though the open side of outer air duct and warm air exits through the inner air duct.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 Shows a side view of previous art.

FIG. 2 Shows a bird-eye view of previous art.

FIG. 3 Shows a side view of previous art.

FIG. 4 Shows a bird-eye view of previous art.

FIG. 5 Shows a bird-eye-view of compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner.

FIG. 6 Shows a side view of a compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner.

FIG. 7 Shows a side view of a compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner and arrows to show air flow direction.

FIG. 8 Shows a side view of a compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner with hood and arrows to show air flow direction.

FIG. 9 Shows a side view of a compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner with catalytic elements and arrows to show air flow direction.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 air duct 2 gas burner 3 fan 4 motor 5 inner air duct 6 outer air duct 7 hood 8 bottom end of outer air duct 9 catalytic material

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel machine of utility in the hot airflow generation art, and more particularly to an improvement to existing hot airflow generators with gas burner.

While working on my invention, U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,672, and trying to improve the performances of existing spray booth, I have been experimenting with existing hot airflow generators and have discovered several improvements in terms of simplifications which greatly enhance the performance and utility of a hot airflow generator with gas burner and, at the same time, result in economy of construction.

The present invention is a machine which is easier to use for the intended purpose.

The present invention also reduces the total volume of a hot airflow generator, thus allowing the realization of an inexpensive, small, high-performing unit.

The present invention also provides a simpler, more efficient combination of parts which, in particular, improves the performance of a hot airflow generator and reduces gas consumption.

The present invention further provides a machine which can be easily positioned inside or outside a building.

All these improvements, and others, of the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art, after carefully studying the following detailed description along with the annexed drawings where the preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown only for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of previous art where a motor 2, a suction fan 3 and a gas burner 4 are positioned inside a single air duct 1.

FIG. 2 shows a bird-eye view of previous art where a motor 2, a suction fan 3 and a gas burner 4 are positioned inside a single air duct 1

FIG. 3 shows a side view of previous art where a motor 2, a suction fan 3 and a gas burner 4 are positioned inside the outflow air duct 5 while an inflow duct 6 is position on one side of the outflow duct 5.

FIG. 4 shows a bird-eye view of previous art where a motor 2, a suction fan 3 and a gas burner 4 are positioned inside the outflow air duct 5 while an inflow duct 6 is position on one side of the outflow duct 5.

FIG. 5 shows a bird-eye view of a compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner where a motor 2, a fan 3 and a gas burner 4 are housed inside an inner air duct 5, which is housed inside an outer duct 6.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner where a motor 2, a fan 3 and a gas burner 4 are housed inside an inner air duct 5, which is housed inside an outer duct 6. A part 8 seals one end of outer air duct 6.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner where a motor 2, a fan 3 and a gas burner 4 are housed inside an inner air duct 5, which is housed inside an outer air duct 6. A part 8 seals one end of outer air duct 6. Arrows show the airflow direction.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner where a motor 2, a fan 3 and a gas burner 4 are housed inside an inner air duct 5, which is housed inside an outer air duct 6. A part 8 seals one end of outer air duct 6. A hood 7 allows part of the air to travel directly through the gas burner. Arrows show the airflow direction.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of a compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner where a motor 2, a fan 3 and a gas burner 4 are housed inside an inner air duct 5, which is housed inside an outer air duct 6. A part 8 seals one end of outer air duct 6. The walls and the outlet end of inner air duct 5 are made of catalytic material 9 with perforation on their top portion.

It should now be clear to those skilled in the art that the compact apparatus for generating a hot air flow with a gas burner will improve the air flow and maximize the energy efficiency by pre warming the cool air in the hollow space between the outer air duct and the inner air duct, thus reducing the consumption of gas, and it will also reduce the total volume of a compact hot airflow generator while, at the same time, improving its performance.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but merely to provide illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Various other embodiments and ramifications are possible within its scope. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. A compact apparatus for generating a hot airflow comprising: a. an outer air duct, with at least one closed end, and at least one air inlet, b. an inner air duct, which is housed inside said outer air duct, with at least one air inlet on its end that faces said closed end of said outer air duct, and at least one air outlet on its other end, c. a fan, powered by a motor, which is housed inside said inner air duct, that has a dual purpose of sucking the air into said apparatus and blowing the air out of said apparatus, d. a gas burner, housed inside said inner air duct;
 2. A compact apparatus for generating a hot-airflow as described in claim 1, wherein said inner air duct is housed inside and parallel to said outer air duct;
 3. A compact apparatus for generating a hot airflow as described in claim 1, wherein said gas burner is housed inside said inner air duct and is positioned between said fan and said air outlet;
 4. A compact apparatus for generating a hot airflow as described in claim 1, wherein said gas burner is housed inside said inner air duct and is positioned between said fan and said air inlet;
 5. A compact apparatus for generating a hot airflow as described in claim 1, wherein said inner air duct is made of catalytic material;
 6. A compact apparatus for generating a hot airflow as described in claim 1, wherein said inner air duct is partially made of catalytic material;
 7. A compact apparatus for generating a hot airflow as described in claim 1, wherein said inner air duct is concentric to said outer air duct. 